Words of the Woods is a show about nature and history. Written and hosted by Brett Peto, environmental communications specialist at the Lake County Forest Preserves, it tells local stories about big topics. Season 3 focuses on climate change.
While it's a global issue, many of its effects—along with opportunities to help mitigate and prevent them—are local.
This season, Brett explores how climate change affects your forest preserves. How wildlife and plants may be adapting. And what the Forest Preserves is doing to make Lake County more climate-resilient.
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Red-winged blackbirds trumpet conk-la-REE-look-at-ME songs from swaying cattails. Wood ducks tip forward to eat plants below the water’s surface, rear ends bobbing in the air.
A great blue heron stands motionless onshore, amber-yellow eyes searching the shallows for tasty fish. The fresh smells of spring drift on a casual breeze as the landscape comes alive.
Birdwatching gives you front-row seats to these compelling scenes, especially in Lake County.
This episode of Words of the Woods was written, hosted and produced by Brett Peto, environmental communications specialist at the Lake County Forest Preserves. Featuring research and expertise from Jen Berlinghof, Nan Buckardt, Eileen Davis, Samantha Gallagher, Gary Glowacki, Mark Hurley, Matt Ueltzen and Pati Vitt.
Many songbirds have flown south. Snow drifts sand the edges off the landscape. But now is when Lake County’s three resident owl species warm up their voices for breeding season.
“As the mercury drops, owl courtship heats up,” said Education Site Specialist Jen Berlinghof.
Four more owl species are winter visitors. Let’s learn the hoots of all seven owls.
When you settle into bed for the evening, another world awakens. Flying squirrels launch between trees, bats emerge from roosts and owls begin their silent hunts.
Your Lake County Forest Preserves provide the food, water, shelter and darkness these animals need during their night shifts. Despite their abundance and proximity, our nocturnal neighbors can seem mysterious. The dark obscures their unique activities.
Imagine stepping into the woods, leaving behind the noise and stress of daily life.
As you pause and breathe, a sense of calm takes over. There’s no rush or destination, only the soothing quiet of the woodland. Welcome to forest bathing, a practice that invites you to reconnect with yourself and nature.
If you live in Lake County, Chicagoland, the Midwest or the eastern U.S. and Canada, tick bites are a low-level but persistent consideration when spending time outdoors.
You don’t have to hike among dense vegetation to find them. Or for them to find you. Checking yourself, your family and pets for ticks regularly is important, especially from spring to fall.
Let’s do what we can to dampen the risks by talking ticks.
Guests:
Kathryn McCabe, wildlife ecologist, Lake County Forest Preserves
If you struggle with climate anxiety, volunteering for the Lake County Forest Preserves is a practical thing you can do to help address the future as well as feelings of worry and fear.
Individuals, couples, families and friend groups can all volunteer. So can corporate groups, civic groups, scout troops, religious institutions, book clubs and just about any other organization. Opportunities include removing invasive species, planting trees and collecting native seed.
Another way to contribute is by making a gift to the Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserves, the charitable partner of the agency. The most significant effort in the Foundation’s history is in progress: a five-year fundraising campaign to create a $20 million endowment for the Forest Preserves. Returns from investing that principal are expected to be $800,000 annually, which will exclusively support ongoing habitat restoration.
When it comes down to it, the ultimate source of resilience is all of us.
Guests:
Kelly Burdick, native seed nursery program manager, Lake County Forest Preserves
Nels Leutwiler, former president of the Preservation Foundation
John Nelson, chief operations officer, Lake County Forest Preserves
Kelly Schultz, stewardship ecologist, Lake County Forest Preserves
Rebekah Snyder, director of community engagement and partnerships, Lake County Forest Preserves
The building looks as if it’s always been there. As though the floodplain forests of Ryerson Conservation Area in Riverwoods, Illinois summoned the smoky green walls, floor-to-ceiling windows and sleek roof. But the new Ryerson Education Center (REC), opened spring 2024, is the culmination of three years of planning and an ambitious goal.
Create a net-zero energy building that produces as much power as it consumes each year. It’s not alone. The Forest Preserves now has three buildings designed to achieve net-zero, and it’s purchasing more energy-efficient vehicles and battery-powered equipment.
Look inside the ongoing transition to an electric future.
Guests:
Jen Berlinghof, education site specialist, Lake County Forest Preserves
Dave Ingoldsby, preserve maintenance crew chief, Lake County Forest Preserves
Becky Mathis, landscape architect, Lake County Forest Preserves
John Nelson, chief operations officer, Lake County Forest Preserves
Rebekah Snyder, director of community engagement and partnerships, Lake County Forest Preserves
Greg Walenter, preserve planner, Lake County Forest Preserves
In the U.S., more than 40 million acres of land are covered by lawn. To be sure, turfgrass produces oxygen and absorbs carbon dioxide just like other plants. It prevents soil erosion by wind and water. It creates curb appeal—a neutral, nearly universal surface.
But lawns crowd out the many gorgeous, hardy, unique native plants that call Illinois and other parts of the country home. Most grasses used in lawns were imported. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) isn’t from the American South; it hails from Europe, Asia and northern Africa. Native animals don’t use it for food and shelter. The lawn may as well be an ecological
dead zone.
There’s a solution: landscaping with native plants. Here’s your guide to getting started.
Guests:
Eileen Davis, environmental educator, Lake County Forest Preserves
Alyssa Firkus, director of education, Lake County Forest Preserves
Becky Mathis, landscape architect, Lake County Forest Preserves
April Vaos, public program specialist, Lake County Forest Preserves
Chicagoland’s trees are some of the most hardworking plants around. The 172 million trees that make up the regional forest help regulate air temperature, create oxygen, soak up stormwater, store carbon and reduce energy bills with the shade they cast. They also clean the air, removing 18,600 tons of pollutants from car exhaust and industrial emissions every year.
Increasingly, scientists and doctors are viewing trees and nature as a public health tool to prevent and treat disease. The benefits of trees clearly extend far beyond their branches.
But not everyone has the same access to them.
Guests:
Matt Ueltzen, Manager of Restoration Ecology, Lake County Forest Preserves
Mammals dominate our hearts and homes. Pets such as dogs, cats, hamsters, hedgehogs and others offer companionship and cuteness, of course. But mammals are also recognizable as close kin, not too far away on the tree of life.
About 70 mammal species are native to Illinois. Eastern chipmunks, red and gray foxes, eastern cottontail rabbits, American beavers, raccoons, white-tailed deer, Virginia opossums, groundhogs, mice, voles, coyotes, striped skunks and American bison all call the state home.
In today’s episode, the second of two parts on what climate change could mean for wildlife, and how animals may already be adapting. Our focus today: mammals, frogs and pollinators.
Guests:
Gary Glowacki, manager of conservation ecology, Lake County Forest Preserves
Eric Ness, former wildlife ecologist, Lake County Forest Preserves
Kathryn McCabe, wildlife ecologist, Lake County Forest Preserves
Your gift will help create a $20 million endowment to protect the forest preserves you love, ensuring every acre of habitat we restore remains ecologically healthy. Forever. Learn more and give at LCFPD.org/endowment.
This episode of Words of the Woods was written, hosted and produced by Brett Peto, environmental communications specialist at the Lake County Forest Preserves. Featuring research and expertise from Jen Berlinghof and Jennifer Ackerman.
This episode of Words of the Woods was hosted and produced by Brett Peto, environmental communications specialist at the Lake County Forest Preserves. Featuring writing from Kim Mikus. Expertise from Retta Hennessy and Susmitha Kilaru. Script editing by Jeanna Martinucci, Kim Mikus and Rebekah Snyder. Music and sound effects from Storyblocks. Audio editing and mixing by Brett Peto.
Words of the Woods is a production of the Lake County Forest Preserves in Libertyville, Illinois.
This episode of Words of the Woods was written, hosted and produced by Brett Peto, Environmental Communications Specialist at the Lake County Forest Preserves. Featuring research and expertise from Eileen Davis, Alyssa Firkus, April Vaos and Becky Mathis. Script editing by Eileen Davis, Alyssa Firkus, Kevin Kleinjan, Ty Kovach, Jeanna Martinucci, Becky Mathis, Kim Mikus, Matt Mulligan, Rebekah Snyder, Matt Ueltzen, April Vaos and Pati Vitt. Music and sound effects from Storyblocks. Audio editing and mixing by Brett Peto.
This episode of Words of the Woods was written, hosted and produced by Brett Peto, Environmental Communications Specialist at the Lake County Forest Preserves. Featuring research and expertise from Eileen Davis, Alyssa Firkus, April Vaos and Becky Mathis. Script editing by Eileen Davis, Alyssa Firkus, Kevin Kleinjan, Ty Kovach, Jeanna Martinucci, Becky Mathis, Kim Mikus, Matt Mulligan, Rebekah Snyder, Matt Ueltzen, April Vaos and Pati Vitt. Music and sound effects from Storyblocks. Audio editing and mixing by Brett Peto.
